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Poster:	unclejohn52	Date:	January 26, 2011 03:12:17pm
Forum:	GratefulDead	Subject:	Re: The DEAD's take on THEIR vocals...

I never gave the vocals a second thought in the 70s, beyond the Donna "extravagances" you've mentioned. The sound was all about the wonderful songs and intricate guitars. Yes, the S&R and E72 are better for the overdubbing. Yeah, I'd say they're better than Live/Dead "vocally", but I'd never dream of ranking 'em that way. I think they're absolutely right to try to give us the best product they could, any way possible that could be done with integrity to the music.

I think this helps settle "THE" issue I've harped on all along...vocals decline post 71...Right?

Disagree here. I think they improved ! Bob certainly sang better, if you discount some of the yelling - better tone, diction, and phrasing. None of it up to the standards of WD and AB studio work, of course. I like Phil's vocals (his pitch is always there) but we heard less of Phil as Donna came in, and I have to call this an upgrade. As for Jerry - I love his vocals most of the time (discount fozzie-bear time), but some of the best are from 72-79 imo. Some of the early vocals are kind of nasal and country, and he worked hard to improve. I would pinpoint the vocal decline for the band to 78-79, and it's one reason I have a hard time listening through the 80s.


whoops, somehow slipped in code by mistake...

This post was modified by unclejohn52 on 2011-01-26 23:12:17